Small businesses in the borough are already up in arms at the rolling closures and the ever depleting services of local banks. Reduced hours and services in some others have caused confusion, particularly for old people in the rural areas. Now the closures announced by  the National Westminster/RBS Bank have angered businesses in Waverley including those in Haslemere and Cranleigh, which only recently lost its HSBC bank, and which, we understand, is to be replaced by – ‘Specsavers’.

A total of twelve  branches are closing in Surrey – including Cranleigh; Guildford (Woodbridge Hill); Banstead; Cobham; Haslemere; Horley; Morden; East Sheen; West Byfleet; Reigate; West Byfleet and Wimbledon; There are a number of others on the Surrey/Sussex and Surrey/Hampshire borders that effect Waverley residents.

RBS is closing a total of 259 branches – one in four of its outlets – and cutting 680 Jobs. The closure involves 62 Royal Bank of Scotland and 197 NatWest branches. The Bank says it will ensure compulsory redundancies are kept to an absolute minimum. The use of its branches, which is 71% owned by the taxpayer, says use of its branches has fallen by 40% since 2014, but the Unite union, which represents bank staff, has called the cuts “savage’.

The move comes after Lloyds announced on Wednesday it would close 49 branches and the Yorkshire Building Society – 13.